Last week’s record: 9-5
Season record: 60-42
*** = BANNON’S BEST GAMES
MATCHUP: 49ERS (1-5) AT BEARS (1-5)
7:30 p.m. Sunday
TV/radio: ESPN, WLS-Ch. 7, WBBM-AM 780
Line: Bears by 1 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 49-7 at San Francisco on Sept. 7, 2003
KEY STAT: It’s Bears’ 30th-ranked rushing defense vs. 49ers’ No. 28 rushing offense.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Tim Rattay, making his eighth career start, has thrown 7 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions this season. Rookie Craig Krenzel becomes Bears’ third QB of season.
THE BUZZ: Bears’ offense has scored only 2 TDs in 3 games, but Thomas Jones could have big game against this defense. Bears will need Paul Edinger too.
THE PICK: Bears 16 49ers 14
MATCHUP: CARDINALS (2-4) AT BILLS (1-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Bills by 3
Last meeting: Bills won 31-21 at Arizona on Dec. 19, 1999
KEY STAT: Cards’ defense leads NFL with 18 turnovers.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Emmitt Smith having comeback year, averaging 4.2 yards for Cards. Willis McGahee, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, new Bills starter.
THE BUZZ: Cards are 0-3 on road, and losses have come by total of 13 points. It’s time for Bills QB Drew Bledsoe, who has 6 TD passes vs. 7 interceptions, to make difference.
THE PICK: Bills 21 Cardinals 17
MATCHUP: LIONS (4-2) AT COWBOYS (2-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Cowboys by 3
Last meeting: Cowboys won 38-7 at Detroit on Oct. 19, 2003
KEY STAT: Lions lead NFL with plus-10 turnover differential.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Rookie Roy Williams leads Lions with 24 catches, 5 for TDs. Eddie George getting just 3.5 yards per carry for Cowboys.
THE BUZZ: Lions suddenly have become road warriors, going 3-0 after losing 24 straight as Joey Harrington emerges as solid QB. Cowboys aren’t even playing well at home (1-2).
THE PICK: Lions 23 Cowboys 17
MATCHUP: JAGUARS (5-2) AT TEXANS (3-3)
Noon Sunday
Line: Texans by 1
Last meeting: Jaguars won 27-0 at Jacksonville on Dec. 7, 2003
KEY STAT: This is first time in their 3 seasons Texans are .500 after 6 games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Two of game’s best young QBs: Jags’ Byron Leftwich has 9 TDs vs. 5 interceptions; Texans’ David Carr has 8 TDs vs. 5 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Two teams that know how to throw ball could go down to final minute. Texans are rested after week off; Jaguars in for letdown after beating Colts.
THE PICK: Texans 28 Jaguars 13
*** MATCHUP: COLTS (4-2) AT CHIEFS (2-4)
Noon Sunday
Line: Colts by 1
Last meeting: Colts won AFC divisional playoff 38-31 at Kansas City on Jan. 11, 2004
KEY STAT: Colts are 14-5 on road under coach Tony Dungy.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chiefs’ Priest Holmes leads NFL rushers with 690 yards and 10 TDs. Colts’ Peyton Manning has thrown 17 TD passes vs. 3 interceptions.
THE BUZZ: Chiefs are getting some of their swagger back, but Colts are veteran team that was stung by home loss to Jaguars. They know how to win at K.C.
THE PICK: Colts 38 Chiefs 31
*** GAME OF THE WEEK
MATCHUP: GIANTS (4-2) AT VIKINGS (5-1)
Noon Sunday
Line: Vikings by 7
Last meeting: Giants won 29-17 at Minnesota on Oct. 26, 2003
KEY STAT: Vikings have 300-plus yards of offense in NFL record 35 straight games.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Giants’ Amani Toomer has 26 catches, but no TDs. Ex-Bear Marcus Robinson has 21 catches, 6 TDs for Vikings.
THE BUZZ: Even if Randy Moss is slowed by hamstring injury, Vikings’ deep receiving corps will make difference.
THE PICK: Vikings 31 Giants 21
*** MATCHUP: RAVENS (4-2) AT EAGLES (6-0)
Noon Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Eagles by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Teams tied 10-10 at Baltimore on Nov. 16, 1997
KEY STAT: Eagles going for first 7-0 start.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Eagles’ Dorsey Levens gets a chance to start at running back for injured Brian Westbrook. Ravens’ Kyle Boller has thrown 2 TDs vs. 5 INTs.
THE BUZZ: Bad blood in this one because Ravens tried to trade 49ers for Terrell Owens, who fought deal and wound up where he wanted to be. Eagles can cope without Westbrook better than Ravens can without suspended Jamal Lewis.
THE PICK: Eagles 24 Ravens 13
MATCHUP: BENGALS (2-4) AT TITANS (2-5)
Noon Sunday
Line: Titans by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 30-24 at Cincinnati on Oct. 27, 2002
KEY STAT: Titans 0-3 at home, losing by average of 9 points.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Bengals cornerback Tory James tied for NFL lead with 4 INTs. Chris Brown averaging 4.9 yards per carry for Titans.
THE BUZZ: Bengals are coming off emotional home Monday night victory over Broncos, and Titans QB Steve McNair is sore again. Titans have desperation factor on their side.
THE PICK: Titans 17 Bengals 13
MATCHUP: PACKERS (3-4) AT REDSKINS (2-4)
Noon Sunday
TV: WFLD-Ch. 32
Line: Packers by 2
Last meeting: Packers won 30-9 at Green Bay on Oct. 20, 2002
KEY STAT: It’s Packers’ No. 2 offense vs. Redskins’ No. 1 defense.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Ahman Green averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Clinton Portis getting only 3.9 for Redskins.
THE BUZZ: Brett Favre and Green will give Redskins challenge they haven’t seen yet. But Joe Gibbs has had extra week to prepare.
THE PICK: Redskins 23 Packers 21
*** MATCHUP: FALCONS (5-2) AT BRONCOS (5-2)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Broncos by 7
Last meeting: Broncos won 42-14 at Denver on Sept. 10, 2000
KEY STAT: Falcons third in NFL with 143.1 rushing yards per game.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Falcons’ Peerless Price has caught pass in 78 straight games, with 19 TDs-but none this year. Rod Smith (above) paces Broncos with 32 catches, 2 for TDs.
THE BUZZ: Falcons’ vulnerabilities were exposed in KC last week, and Broncos’ defense will do it again.
THE PICK: Broncos 27 Falcons 16
MATCHUP: PANTHERS (1-5) AT SEAHAWKS (3-3)
3:05 p.m. Sunday
Line: Seahawks by 8
Last meeting: Panthers won 26-3 at Carolina on Oct. 8, 2000
KEY STAT: Seahawks have allowed 29.3 points per game in 3-game losing streak.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Ex-Bear Bobby Engram averaging healthy 16.7 yards on 12 catches for Seahawks. Panthers’ second-round pick Keary Colbert has 20 catches, 2 TDs.
THE BUZZ: This looked like great matchup in August. Now it features 2 of league’s most disappointing teams. Yawn.
THE PICK: Seahawks 23 Panthers 14
*** MATCHUP: PATRIOTS (6-0) AT STEELERS (5-1)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
TV: WBBM-Ch. 2
Line: Patriots by 3
Last meeting: Patriots won 30-14 at New England on Sept. 9, 2002
KEY STAT: Pats going for 22nd straight regular season/playoff victory.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Pats’ Tom Brady is completed 67.2 percent with 3 TDs and no INTs in last two games vs. Steelers. Plaxico Burress second in NFL with 19.8 yards per catch for Steelers.
THE BUZZ: Rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger has won all 4 of his starts, but now he faces Bill Belichick’s defense. Until proven otherwise, assume Pats can stop anybody.
THE PICK: Patriots 24 Steelers 20
MATCHUP: RAIDERS (2-5) AT CHARGERS (4-3)
3:15 p.m. Sunday
Line: Chargers by 6
Last meeting: Chargers won 21-14 at San Diego on Dec. 28, 2003
KEY STAT: Raiders are 0-3 on road, losing by 12.3 points per game.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson ran for career-high 243 yards and 2 TDs in last meeting with Raiders. Raiders’ Kerry Collins has thrown more than twice as many interceptions as TDs (9-4).
THE BUZZ: Like Bears, Raiders aren’t getting production out of their backup QB. At least Bears have won on road. Chargers’ playoff drive continues.
THE PICK: Chargers 27 Raiders 20
MATCHUP: DOLPHINS (1-6) AT JETS (5-1)
8 p.m. Monday
TV/radio: WLS-Ch. 7, WSCR-AM 670
Line: Jets by 7
Last meeting: Jets won 17-9 at Miami on Oct. 3
KEY STAT: Teams have split 8 Monday night meetings.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON: Sammy Morris averaging modest 3.6 yards per carry for Dolphins. Jets’ Curtis Martin has 683 yards, second in league, and 4.5 average.
THE BUZZ: Jets one of NFL’s turnaround teams, but getting 2 games against Dolphins in first 7 weeks sure helps.
THE PICK: Jets 26 Dolphins 17
